BY EMILY DAVENPORT
New York state is cracking down on
mask mandates as COVID-19 hospitalization
cases start to rise.
In an effort to stop a winter surge
of COVID-19 cases, Hochul announced
that masks must be worn in all indoor
public places in New York unless businesses
or venues implement a vaccine
requirement. This decision came as the
winter surge comes as COVID-19 cases
and hospitalizations rise statewide to
be in alignment with the CDC’s recommendations
for communities with substantial
and high transmission.
“As Governor, my two top priorities
are to protect the health of New
Yorkers and to protect the health of our
economy. The temporary measures I
am taking today will help accomplish
this through the holiday season. We
shouldn’t have reached the point where
we are confronted with a winter surge,
especially with the vaccine at our disposal,
and I share many New Yorkers’
frustration that we are not past this
pandemic yet,” Governor Hochul said.
“I want to thank the more than 80 percent
of New Yorkers who have done the
right thing to get fully vaccinated. If
others will follow suit, these measures
will no longer be necessary.”
“Community spread requires a community
minded solution, as the Omicron
variant emerges and the overwhelmingly
dominant Delta variant
continues to circulate. We have the
tools we need to protect against the virus
– and now we must ensure we use
them,” Acting Health Commissioner
Dr. Mary T. Bassett said.
The decision for the mandate came
as the state’s hospitalization rates and
seven-day case rates increase. Since
Thanksgiving, the statewide seven-day
average case rate has increased by 43%
and hospitalizations have increased
by 29%. According to Hochul’s offi ce,
though the rate of vaccinations is increasing,
it is not rising fast enough to
curb the spread of COVID-19.
The requirements, effective from
Dec. 13, 2021 until Jan. 15, 2022, extend
to both patrons and staff of businesses
and venues and will be re-evaluated
based on current conditions. Those who
violate the new mandate face civil and
criminal penalties, including a maximum
fi ne of $1,000 for each violation.
Local health departments are being
asked to enforce these requirements.
“I have warned for weeks that additional
steps could be necessary, and now
we are at that point based upon three
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, D 22 EC. 17-23, 2021 BTR
Shoppers wearing protective masks ride an escalator at Hudson Yards amid the coronavirus
disease (COVID-19) pandemic in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S.,
March 6, 2021. Photo REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
metrics: Increasing cases, reduced hospital
capacity, and insuffi cient vaccination
rates in certain areas,” Governor
Hochul added.
Businesses and venues that choose
to enforce a proof of vaccination requirement
can accept Excelsior Pass,
Excelsior Pass Plus, SMART Health
Cards issued outside of New York State,
or a CDC Vaccination Card. full-course
vaccination is defi ned as 14 days past
an individual’s last vaccination dose
in their initial vaccine series, and the
State also accepts WHO-approved vaccines
for these purposes. Parents and
guardians can retrieve and store an
Excelsior Pass and/or Excelsior Pass
Plus for children or minors under legal
guardianship. Those what don’t choose
to have a vaccine requirement must
implement a mask requirement must
ensure all patrons two years and older
wear a mask at all times while indoors.
Unvaccinated New Yorkers must
continue to be responsible for wearing
masks, and the State’s masking requirements
continue to be in effect for
pre-K to grade 12 schools, public transit,
homeless shelters, correctional facilities,
nursing homes, and health care
settings per CDC guidelines. Masks are
encouraged as an extra layer of protection
in public indoor settings even when
not required. Children aged 2-5 who remain
ineligible for vaccination must
wear a proper-fi tting mask.
Hochul mandates face
coverings indoors
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